Mayor Of London 2016: IT Glitch Leaves Many Unable To Vote

Michael Moore joined TechWeek Europe in January 2014 as a trainee before graduating to Reporter later that year. He covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to mobile devices, wearable tech, the Internet of Things, and financial technology.

Residents in one London borough were left unable to cast their votes this morning after an IT glitch affected voting registers.

Thousands of voters in the borough of Barnet were unable to participate in the elections to choose London’s next mayor, London Assembly members and local council elections as the registers did not contain the correct information.

Many people turned up to vote only to find that they were not included on the electoral register, or had incorrect or incomplete information under their names, with one councillor telling the Independent that only one in ten people who turned up this morning was able to vote.

Problems

The council confirmed there had been an issue with the electoral registers across the borough, where over 250,000 people are registered to vote, from 7am this morning.

However, the problem was ultimately amended at around 10.40am this morning when the updated registers were delivered, with voting now able to continue as normal.

“We are aware of problems with our electoral registration lists this morning at polling stations in Barnet which have meant that a number of people who had not brought their polling card with them were unable to vote,” it said in a statement on its website.

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Resolved

“We are working to resolve this issue and the updated registers have been sent to all the polling stations, which we expect to be in place by 10am. In the meantime, people who have their polling cards with them are able to vote.”

“We are advising residents to bring their polling cards. If people were unable to vote this morning they are being advised to return if possible later before the stations close at 10pm. We apologise for the problems.”

The fault affected many Barnet residents who had hoped to cast their ballots this morning before heading to work, meaning those who wish to do so will have to return later on today.

TechWeekEurope has been looking into the technology policies of all the major parties in the London Mayoral elections, which can be read below.